Beats Solo 4 was launched earlier this year and the company's latest over-ear headphones arrived in India in August. They are equipped with audio features found on Apple's more expensive wireless headphones, including spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and support for lossless audio, but they lack support for active noise cancellation (ANC). The headphones are compatible with iOS and Android devices and feature a standard USB Type-C port for charging. The Beats Solo 4 compete with comparably priced headphones from Bose and Sony.
The Beats Solo 4 price is set at Rs. 22,900 in India. It is sold in three colorways: Cloud Pink, Matte Black, and Slate Blue (the company sent us this variant for review) through the company's online store and authorized retailers in the country.
Beats Solo 4 design: lightweight and comfortable
- Dimensions: 177x158x6.8mm
- Weight – 217g
These over-ear headphones are made mostly of plastic and look quite similar to the previous generation models, apart from the more pastel colors that give them a slightly less edgy look. This also means that they are light enough to wear for long periods of time, although you may feel them on your head. The pads do not appear to be user replaceable, which is unfortunate.
Beats Solo 4 features an aquainted design
Like its predecessors, the Beats Solo 4 have the company's branding engraved on both earbuds. There is a small '4' on the right side of the adjustable headband, while the inside of the headband contains more text related to regulatory information (right) and an indicator on the left ear; none of these are seen when you use the headphones.
The headphones ship with a lightly padded carrying bag, along with a 3.5mm audio cable and a USB Type-C to Type-C cable that can be used to play lossless audio or charge the headphones. However, you will need to purchase a power adapter separately.
I have a fairly long head and wear glasses, but I found the Beats Solo 4 comfortable even after wearing them for a few hours straight. However, the fit of headphones can vary from person to person, so it's best to try them on in a store to make sure they feel comfortable on your head.
Beats Solo 4 software – gets the job done
- Software platforms: iOS, Android
- Customizable controls: call management, media playback, mute/unmute, volume controls
Like the Beats Studio Buds+ and Beats Solo Buds, these wireless earbuds work with Android smartphones and most Apple devices. You'll need to download the Beats companion app on the former, while the same controls are built into the Settings app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.
You can customize various Beats Solo 4 settings on Apple devices and Android smartphones
You get support for Google's Quick Pair service on Android and Quick Pair on Windows when you set up Beats Solo 4 for the first time. If you have an iPhone or iPad, you will see the familiar card appear that will ask you to connect to the headphones. The device also works with Apple's Discover My service, while Android users can see where the device was last connected to the companion app.
The left earbud lets you control media playback and manage calls: a single press pauses and resumes playback, while calls can be answered and muted with a single press and ended with a double press. You can also press the top and bottom of the panel to increase and decrease the volume, respectively.
A button on the right side must be pressed and held to turn the Beats Solo 4 on and off. The bottom of the left earcup has a 3.5mm audio port and an LED indicator that indicates when the headphones are charging and in use , while the right earcup has a USB Type-C port, an improvement over the Solo 3 model with a Micro USB port.
Beats Solo 4 is equipped with a 3.5mm audio port and a USB Type-C port
Like other audio products from Beats and Apple, the companion app on Android and the built-in audio settings for Beats Solo 4 do not include support for equalizer presets. This means you'll have to rely on media apps that include their own equalization controls, like Spotify or Poweramp.
Beats Solo 4 performance and battery life: So-so in the field
- Bluetooth version – 5.3
- Active noise cancellation – No
- Battery life: up to 50 hours
Beats Solo 4 headphones are equipped with improved 40mm drivers and a redesigned acoustic architecture. They feature an impartial sound signature, meaning they are ideal for various music genres and there is no perceptible distortion, even when listening to music at the highest volume.
My routine playlist for testing headphones contains tracks that span multiple genres, and the Beats Solo 4 could easily handle them. Sasha Alex Sloan's vocals sound extremely clear on Older, while the mids and bass have wide separation. The same goes for Taylor Swift's Daylight, where her voice is clearly audible from the background music.
Abba's Mamma Mia and Voulez-Vous sound excellent on Beats Solo 4, with ample emphasis on all instruments. INXS's Afterglow, a track that typically sounds “muffled” on many headphones, was clear with just the right amount of bass.
The Beats Solo 4 feel comfortable in the ears even after a long period of time
Beats audio products have earned a reputation for delivering warm, U-shaped audio, but this doesn't seem to be the case with the Solo 4 headphones. Ástor Piazzolla and María Dueñas' Very Busy Yo soy María is a classic piece that contains a mix of violin and piano that are clearly audible with headphones. This is also noticeable in #24 in A minor by Hilary Hahn, another fast-paced number that sounded good.
As you'd expect, the Beats Solo 4 headphones handle tracks like Billie Eilish's Birds Of A Feather effortlessly and there's no distortion, even when the volume is turned up. Bass response on NLE Choppa's Crab Circulation and Nbhd Nick's Manner Up is excellent.
Like other Beats Solo audio models (like the Solo Buds), these wireless earbuds do not offer ANC support. It's disappointing to see this on a device at this price, especially considering that comparably priced wireless earbuds offer excellent ANC performance.
While the lack of ANC may be a glaring omission from the Beats Solo 4, the headphones offer two useful features: spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and lossless audio via USB Type-C or 3.5 audio ports. mm.
I connected the headphones using both interfaces and found that the sound quality was excellent and the wired mode allows you to use the device even when the battery is dead. Meanwhile, you'll need an iPhone to use spatial audio with a dynamic head tracking feature, and it works reliably while listening to or watching compatible music and movies, respectively.
Beats says the Solo 4 is equipped with digital beamforming microphones that are used in conjunction with a voice guidance algorithm designed to improve voice quality on calls. This works seamlessly with the iPhone's built-in noise reduction feature, allowing users to take calls while wearing the headphones.
You can fold the Beats Solo 4 and store it inside the included carrying case.
The Beats Solo 4 is not equipped with an Apple H or W series chip, meaning it lacks support for seamless switching between Apple devices. However, pairing it with an iPhone allows it to be used on all paired Apple devices, and the Quick Pair feature on Android allows users to use it.
According to the company, the Beats Solo 4 can offer up to 50 hours of media playback, but note that it doesn't include features like spatial audio with dynamic head tracking or taking voice calls. After using the headphones to take calls or meetings and listen to music, I used them for approximately five days with an average of eight hours a day, which is around 40 hours.
Even if you end up using the headphones for an extended period, you shouldn't have to charge them more than once a week. The company says its Quick Gasoline feature allows users to plug the earbuds into a compatible charger and get approximately five hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
Beats Solo 4 review: verdict
If you are looking for a pair of colorful wireless earbuds under Rs. 25,000 that work well with Android smartphones and Apple products, then the Beats Solo 4 is easy to recommend, thanks in part to its reliable sound quality and excellent battery life.
However, if you don't need features like spatial audio with dynamic head tracking or don't have an Apple device that allows you to access the feature, you may want to consider the much cheaper JBL Reside 770NC over-ear headphones.
You get a USB Type-C cable and a 3.5mm audio cable with Beats Solo 4
More advanced over-ear wireless headphones in the same price segment include the Sony WH-1000XM4 (Review), the Marshall Monitor II, and the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones. Alternatively, you can wait for the price of the Beats Solo 4 to drop before purchasing the headphones.
Those headphones offer ANC support, which is missing on the Beats Solo 4. The older 2019 Beats Solo Professional is available from some sellers in India for around Rs. 25,000, with support for seamless switching and ANC using Apple's H1 chip, if you don't mind the outdated Lightning port and the shorter advertised battery life (22 hours and 40 hours with ANC enabled and disabled, respectively).